Master Drummers of Dagbon, V. 2

March 1, 2011

The second volume of magnificent field recordings by John Miller Chernoff (see also Rounder 5016) offers further documentation of a little-known African culture. The Dagbamba of northern Ghana share a number of musical traits with other savannah cultures, but they have also developed ensemble drumming to a high standard. Here, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulai leads a large group in 16 traditional beats. There are heavy spiritual repercussions in these performances, where masters of drumming express themselves in a tradition of artistic genius.